Report states duo was aware license needed to run radio station

Two men were arrested on Tuesday after Marion County deputies say they were illegally operating a radio station.

Deputies arrested Juan Nieves and Luis Galindo after discovering a radio tower mounted behind a single-wide mobile home in Summerfield.

Nieves admitted to authorities that he was the owner of the station, which had been in operation for the past year. He also admitted that he had no license but he was aware it was required to run a radio station, according to the report.

Galindo told authorities he worked as a broadcaster for the station and that he took in the money for advertising.

Both men were arrested and placed in jail.

Federal Communication Commission authorities were alerted to the unlicensed station by a Clear Channel Inc. engineer. Clear Channel Inc. owns 700 radio stations across the nation.

According to the report, the station was operating on 97.7 FM with DJs talking, playing Mexican music and advertising Hispanic businesses in the Marion County area.

Unlicensed stations are illegal because they can interfere with other stations, as well as with any aircraft flying in the area of the tower said Kimberly Silva, a FCC agent.

Copyright 2013 by ClickOrlando.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.